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Joint Patrol To Combat Terror

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday expressed satisfaction over the positive development and growth of Brunei-Indonesia Malaysia-the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

His Majesty said this in his titah at the 2nd BIMPEAGA Summit at the KLCC in Malaysia.

Also present at the summit was His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, RTB reported.

His Majesty joined Indonesia's President Susilo Barnbang Yudhoyono, Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in endorsing the "BIMP-EAGA Roadmap to Development" which outlines measures to further coordinate and intensify cooperation within the sub-region.

His Majesty also warmly welcomed the involvement of Australia's Northern Territory as well as the People's

Republic of China as development partners for BIMPEAGA.
They also agreed to enhance security in the sub-region, specifically undertaking joint security patrols to address transnational crimes and terrorism.

The four countries are concerned that the instability in the areas centred around the Sulawesi Sea is scaring investors away from that area, hampering its economic growth, Bernama reported.

The proposed area for patrols forms a rough circle around the Sulawesi Sea. It comprises all of Brunei; Malaysia's Sabah and Sarawak states and its federal territory of Labuan; Indonesia's Sulawesi, Maluku, Irian Jaya and Kalimantan; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

The five-year roadmap from 2006 identifies six priority areas to push economic development in the sub-region.

The areas are transportation, infrastructure, information and communications technology (ICT), natural resources, tourism, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The leaders also pledged to establish increased air links, sea routes and improve airport and seaport infrastructure besides setting up a BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, to coordinate programmes and projects.

Also present at the meeting was Asean Secretary-General Ong Keng Yong and David J. Green from the Southeast Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank.

During the gathering, the leaders took note of the projects undertaken to boost BIMP-EAGA development, including the establishment of air links between TarakanTawau, Kuching-Pontianak, DavaoManada, and Kota Kinabalu-Banda Seri Begawan.

Development of the sea routes will link Zamboanga-Sandakan, Tawi Tawi Sandakan, Nunukan-Tawau, TarakanTawa, Gen Santos-Bitung, and Labuan Muara.

In assessing the achievements since the first summit in Bali in October 2003, as well as determining the future direction of the sub-region, the leaders said the roadmap will guide the stakeholders in the implementation of "doable, practical and sustainable programmes and projects".

"The summit will bring greater impetus to the growth of the sub-region," they said in the statement. They also agreed to convene the BIMP-EAGA summit annually. The four leaders said they have instructed their governments and the respective private sectors to be more proactive in realising the programmes and projects.

To better respond to the needs of the private sector, "we task our respective BIMP-EAGA Ministers and other relevant ministries pertaining to transport, tourism, agriculture and agro-based industries as well as SMES to coordinate the provision of necessary support mechanism to facilitate and to ensure a conducive business environment in the sub-region", the leaders added.

Other steps to facilitate trade include strengthening customs, immigration, quarantine and security, mechanisms, investment generation, improving transport linkages and tourism marketing.

According to the leaders, the BIMP-EAGA Business Council and the Asean Business Advisory Council could also support these initiatives. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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